The radio industry is set to resume its participation in the annual testing of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) after a one-year hiatus in 2022. Inside sources at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have revealed that while the date for this year’s national test of the EAS has not yet been finalized, the decision to continue the tradition has been made.

Inside Radio received insider information regarding the resumption of testing, “FEMA in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission, plan to conduct a national test of the Emergency Alert System and Wireless Emergency Alerts later this year,” the insider said. “A date will be announced when the test date is confirmed,” they added.

The specific date for the test will be announced once it is confirmed, with previous tests typically taking place in mid- to late-summer.

Last year, FEMA surprised broadcasters by announcing the omission of the EAS test. This intentional break was due to FEMA’s efforts to develop a new survey system that would enhance the monitoring of national tests for both the EAS and WEA. The intended survey would collect feedback from the public regarding their awareness and reception of the alerts, with the information being shared with broadcasters and the wireless industry.

Antwane Johnson, Director of the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) program, stated last year that by gaining better insights into the reach of the alerts, FEMA could make improvements to its alert and warning capabilities based on the collected data.

The report on the last national test conducted in 2021 revealed that the test message reached 89.3% of EAS participants, marking an increase from 82.5% in 2019. Among radio stations, the government reported that 88.8% of participating stations successfully received the alert, with 87% able to retransmit it successfully.

Under FCC regulations, participating wireless providers must deliver the alerts to the specified area with minimal over-shoot, typically within a tenth of a mile, wherever technically feasible. Industry estimates suggest that approximately 60% of active smartphones in the United States support the “enhanced geotargeting” functionality required, with the number expected to increase as consumers upgrade to newer devices.

The Washington Post has announced the addition of Laura Wagner to their team as a media reporter, focusing on the dynamic landscape of digital media.

According to a press release from The Post, Wagner most recently served as a staff writer at Defector. During her time there, she covered a wide range of topics including media, sports, and labor. Notably, she reported on the corporate takeover of Football Outsiders, shedding light on the issue.

Before her tenure at Defector, Wagner held the position of senior staff writer at Vice. In that capacity, she focused on covering prominent figures and institutions in the media landscape. Her reporting included topics such as Norm Pearlstine’s leadership at the Los Angeles Times and the suspension of Jeffrey Toobin by The New Yorker.

Prior to that, Wagner specialized in sports and sports media coverage at Deadspin. Her work has also been featured in publications like Slate and NPR, with her contributions recognized by the Columbia Journalism Review.

In her new role at The Washington Post, Laura Wagner will take on the task of reporting on the rapidly evolving digital media industry, providing insightful coverage of the field.

Wagner holds a B.A. in government from Georgetown University, with minors in journalism and Spanish. She will be relocating with her family to New York, where she will be based for her work at The Post. Wagner first day at The Washington Post is scheduled for June 26.

In the wake of Ford’s recent reversal on excluding AM receivers from their electric vehicles, AM radio operators are eagerly waiting to see if other automakers will follow suit. Broadcasters and industry trade groups are anticipating responses from automakers to individual letters sent by a bipartisan group of House representatives, urging companies like Volkswagen, BMW, Mazda, Volvo, Tesla, Polestar, Rivian, GM, and Mercedes-Benz to retain AM radio in their vehicles.

Curtis LeGeyt, President and CEO of the National Association of Broadcasters, emphasized the need for automakers to provide specific information about their plans regarding AM radio in their vehicles, following the detailed inquiries in the letters. LeGeyt stated, “Each of those automakers has the opportunity to clear this up and give very specific information about their plans with regard to AM radio in their automobiles. That’s the next step here, to see what those responses look like.”

According to Inside Radio, LeGeyt and other industry leaders are advising broadcasters to encourage their congressional representatives to support the proposed AM for Every Vehicle Act, which would require carmakers to include AM broadcast radio in new vehicles without extra charges.

LeGety urged all broadcasters to join in the industry wide effort, “To get the momentum that’s going to be necessary to get consideration in the Congress committees and then, ultimately, on the House and Senate floors, every broadcaster needs to engage with their legislator and tell them that this is incredibly important.”

Jordan Walton, head of the Massachusetts Broadcasters Association says the industry’s work on the issue didn’t end with last week’s Ford victory. “We’ll continue to seek co-sponsors of the AM in Every Vehicle Act and push for that to move through Congress,” he says.

Amid concerns about AM’s long-term availability in connected cars, AM stations are recognizing the importance of making their content available across multiple platforms. While Ford’s decision to retain AM radio is significant, the battle for listeners’ attention in vehicles is increasingly shifting to the digital realm.

According to Infinite Dial 2023, over half of Americans aged 12+ (53%) listen to online audio through a cell phone in the car, highlighting the significance of AM stations embracing multiple platforms for content distribution, while still being available on the band for emergency situations and more old-school listeners.